FIRSTMARK AEROSPACE CORPORATION, CREEDMOOR, NC, Granville County, has won a contract worth $27,378.00 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Transmitter, Liquid Quantity.
MACHINE SPECIALTIES, INC., WHITSETT, NC, Guilford County, has won a contract worth $212,800.00 from Department of the Air Force for Aircraft Components and Accessories.
MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS, INC., HILLSBOROUGH, NC, Orange County, has won a contract worth $31,196.90 from Department of Veterans Affairs for REVERSE OSMOSIS MACHINE FOR DIALYSIS.
NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, CHAPEL HILL, NC, Orange County, has won a contract worth $120,400 from Department of Health and Human Services for RECOVERY: Tissue Purchase Order Contract Acquisition for NCI’s The Cancer Genome Atlas Program.
CURTISS WRIGHT CONTROLS, GASTONIA, NC, Gaston County, has won a contract worth $51,000 from Department of the Navy for REPAIR/MODIFICATION OF ELECTRO-ME ACTUATOR.
MACHINE SPECIALTIES, INC., WHITSETT, NC, Guilford County, has won a contract worth $15,400 from Department of the Air Force for Hardware and Abrasives.
CALL SIGN CONSTRUCTORS, INC., FAYETTEVILLE, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $78,200.00 from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for RECOVERY–Y–PROJECT # 005800, FALLS LAKE, NC – SHORELINE EROSION PROTECTION.
TANDEMLOC INC., HAVELOCK, NC, Craven County, has won a contract worth $56,392 from Department of the Navy for ISO BLOCKS.
KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES INC., WILSON NC, Wilson County, has won a contract worth $45,077.76 from Defense Logistics Agency for CONNECTOR,PLUG,ELEC.
PIN HIGH COMPANY INC., RALEIGH, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $89,999.10 from Department of the Army for Other Professional Services.
RLCB, INC., RALEIGH, NC, Wake County has won a contract worth $64,468.48 from Defense Logistics Agency for INSULATION TAPE,ELECTRICAL.
KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES INC., WILSON, NC, Wilson County, has won a contract worth $25,057.50 from Defense Logistics Agency for GROMMET,NONMETALLIC.
GFER FORRESTY CONSULTANTS, RALEIGH, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $25,920.00 from Department of Agriculture for *RECOVERY* Timber Marking and Cruising on the UWharrie National Forest.
THALLE CONSTRUCTION CO., INC., HILLSBOROUGH, NC, Orange County, has won a contract worth $40,721,812.00 from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for RECOVERY–Y–PROJECT NUMBER 116941, KENTUCKY LOCK & DAM, TN R, KY.
JOYNER KEENY, PLLC, ROCKY MOUNT, NC, Edgecombe County, has won a contract worth $113,187.31 from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for RECOVERY–C–PROJECT NUMBER 019220, W Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir, NC –Sedimentation Survey and Report.
BlueWater Builders Incorporated, Emerald Isle, NC, Carteret County, has won a contract worth $82,250.00 from NAVFAC MidAtlantic for Winter Pool Maintenance in support of MCB Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River.
Exterior Greenery, Garner NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $86,283.00 from Naval Facilities Engineering Command for Grounds Maintenance at Naval Health Clinic, Marine Corps Base Air Station, Cherry Point.
KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES INC., Wilson, NC, Wilson County has won a contract worth $30,565.50 from Defense Logistics Agency for ELEMENT, SENSING, FIRE DETECTOR.
QRP, INC., Leland, NC, Brunswick County, has won a contract worth $48,576.00 from Defense Logistics Agency for PIN, QUICK RELEASE
MACHINE SPECIALTIES, INC., WHITSETT NC, Guilford County, has won a contract worth $2,260,094.00 from Department of the Air Force for Aircraft Components and Accessories.
CURTISS-WRIGHT CONTROLS, INC., SHELBY NC, Cleveland County, has won a contract worth $31,068.36 from Defense Logistics Agency for GEARBOX ASSEMBLY.
Transylvania Builders Inc., Brevard, NC, Transylvania County, has won a contract worth $61,032.00 from Department of Agriculture for *RECOVERY* Cradle Roof Replacement – Pisgah National Forest – National Forests in North Carolina.
CURTISS-WRIGHT CONTROLS, INC., SHELBY NC, Cleveland County, has won a contract worth $26,877.17 from Defense Logistics Agency for BEARING, BALL, ANNULAR.
Eastern GCR, LLC, Pinehurst, N.C, Moore County, has won a contract worth $10,351,322.00 from Naval Facilities Engineering Command for providing for services including custodial services, pest control services, grounds maintenance, street sweeping, snow removal, and transportation.

.

What a difference a year can make in updating your CCR & ORCA! All the problems for doing this task have gone away as long as you did your update last year. (If you did not do this last year, you will have to contact CCR before doing the update.) When you go to www.ccr.gov to update your CCR all you will need is your User Name & Password that was created by you last year when the TPIN was eliminated. They did make me do 5 new Secret Questions, and please make sure you write down the 5 questions & answers for next year. This was because you have to create a new Password each year or after 60 days since the last time you visited your CCR. Once this was done I hit the Update/Renew, and found all my areas were GREEN! It is very important after you do this to do an update of your Small Business Profile the link will appear. I did check over some of my data like the Point of Contact page to make sure everything was current. The whole process took only 5 minutes, and after waiting 48 hours after completing the CCR I did the ORCA today. It is the same as last year, with a few new clauses. To do the ORCA was also a 5 minute process, and always please save the data for next year renewal. If you have any questions someone on the NCMBC Team will be happy to help.

Gov. Bev Perdue announced Jan. 28 that North Carolina is receiving $545 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for further development of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, a nearly 500-mile route that will allow trains to travel between Charlotte and Washington, D.C. at top speeds of up to 90-110 miles per hour and an average speed of 86 mph.

“Building this high-speed rail corridor will put our people to work on critical infrastructure projects and boost local economies in North Carolina,” said Perdue. “This is a huge leap toward making high-speed rail in North Carolina a reality.”

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the funding award Jan. 28 during a ceremony at the newly renovated Durham train station. The project is expected to create or maintain 4,800 private sector jobs in North Carolina and provide environmental and energy benefits through reduced congestion and improved air quality.

“Every dollar we spend on high speed rail is an investment in job creation and in cleaning the air we all breathe,” said Jackson. “Building high speed rail will put people in North Carolina to work right away, lay the foundation for long term growth and make travel faster and cheaper – all while reducing our impact on the environment.”

Under the recovery funding, North Carolina received $520 million for improvements that will enable higher track speeds along the corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte, and $25 million for projects to improve reliability of existing service from Raleigh north to Virginia. In addition, Virginia received $75 million for improvements to the Richmond to Washington, D.C. section of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor.

To read more.

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?newsItemID=889

The Secretary of Defense delivered the 2010 QDR report to Congress on February 1, 2010. The QDR process frames strategic choices for the Department and establishes priorities to determine appropriate resource investments.

In the 2010 QDR, the Secretary of Defense included “Reforming How We Do Business” as a DoD focus. These priorities will affect future contracting opportunities and processes with DoD. Specifically, the report highlights several key issues, including:

· Reforming security assistance authorities and approaches

· Reforming how we buy

· Strengthening the industrial base

· Reforming the U.S. export control system

· Developing enterprise-wide climate change and energy strategies

For a two-page fact sheet on the QDR, click the link below:

http://www.defense.gov/qdr/QDR_FACT_SHEET_Feb_2010.pdf

For a link to DoD information on the QDR, click the link below:

http://www.defense.gov/qdr/

Allied Partnering, Inc., Raleigh, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $35,579.80 from the Department of the Army for Gaiters.

Machine Specialties, Inc., Greensboro, NC, Guilford County, has won a contract worth $14,350.00 from the Department of the Air Force for Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment.

Vetpride Services, Inc., Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $78,408.00 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Valet Parking in Wilmington, DE.

Superior Industrial Maintenance Company, Concord, NC, Cabarrus County, has won a contract worth $391,383.00 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Recovery–Z–Rehabilitate Elevated Water Tank, Mill Creek Recreation Area, Berlin Lake, OH.

C.A. Foy Machine Co., Kings Mountain, NC, Cleveland County, has won a contract worth $25,503.96 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Insert, Transmission (Trunion Mount) Carbon Steel.

Autonomic Resources LLC, Cary, NC, Wake County, has been awarded a contract of unspecified value by the Department of the Air Force for AFIT IT Support.

Colville, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC, Forsyth County, has won a contract worth $189,000.00 from Federal Prison Industries/Unicor for Spandex-Nylon Binding Tape.

Nucare Carolina Ambulance Inc., Winston-Salem, NC, Forsyth County, has won a contract worth $787,396.90 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Ambulance Services – VAMC Salisbury, NC.

Hotel Logistics, High Point, NC, Guilford County, has won a contract worth $128,860.80 from the Department of the Army for Rental of Hotel Rooms.

Special T. Hosiery Mills, Inc., Burlington, N.C., is being awarded a maximum $7,192,800.00 firm-fixed-price, total set-aside contract for boot socks. Using service is Army. The original proposal was Web solicited with 12 responses. This contract includes a base and three one-year options. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (SPM1C1-10-D-1033).

EverGlow NA, Inc. located in Matthews, North Carolina, manufactures code compliant photoluminescent exit signs and exit path markings. These signs and markings replace or supplement electrical emergency lighting and conform to life safety, fire and building codes – IBC and IFC, NFPA 1 (UFC) and NFPA 5000, NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code).

EverGlow Photoluminescent Exit Signs generally can be used instead of electrical signs above the door and at floor level. A minimum of 5 foot-candles of normal lighting on the sign face is required to properly charge the “glow in the dark” pigments.

Approved EverGlow Photoluminescent Exit Signs offer:
• Qualifies for LEED credits.
• Maximum reliability and effectiveness.
• Tested to the same performance standard as electrical signs.
• No electricity, batteries or lamps needed.
• Contains no radioactive, toxic or vinyl components.
• Aluminum signs and frames. Minimum 60% post consumer recycled content.
• Mounting bracket suitable for left or right wall and ceiling mounting.
• Frame suitable for 1- or 2- side signs.
• Available in red, green or black backgrounds with glow letters.
• Visible and legible from 75 feet.
• Dimensions: 14.5 x 9.3 inches with frame; 13.7 x 8.5 inches w/o frame.
• Directional chevrons and stainless steel fasteners included.

High performance EverGlow photoluminescent signs and markings are used in buildings, ships, airplanes, trains and tunnels. Save energy and save lives.

For more information on Everglow’s products, please visit www.everglow.us or call their offices near Charlotte, toll free 866-744-4706.

It just got tougher for tax delinquents to receive government contracts.

President Obama on Wednesday ordered the IRS to verify whether prospective contractors are up to date in paying their taxes. Companies seeking to do business with the government have long had to certify they are not delinquent in their taxes — now IRS must verify if those certifications are truthful and report its findings in 90 days.

Click here to read the whole story by Elise Castelli.

The billions of dollars in stimulus funds being spent on facilities and highway construction projects is the lone bright spot in an otherwise gloomy outlook for the nation’s construction industry this year, contractors say.

After a year of near-record layoffs, the construction industry is bracing for another tough year, according to a business forecast issued Wednesday by the Associated General Contractors of America. The forecast, which is based on survey responses from nearly 700 construction firms submitted in late December and early January, finds nearly nine in 10 contractors predicting continued hardships this year.

Click here to read the full story by Tim Kauffman.

Geodynamics LLC, Atlantic Beach, NC, Carteret County, has won a contract worth NTE $2,500,000.00 from the Army Corps of Engineers for Architect-Engineer Services for Surveying and Mapping Services to Support the Wilmington District and the South Atlantic Division.

South Shore Clinical Consulting, Inc., Cornelius, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won a contract worth $5,000.00 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) monitor and review services for clinical trials.

Firstmark Aerospace Corporation, Creedmoor, NC, Granville County, has been awarded a contract worth $27,328.00 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Liquid Quantity Transmitters.

Quality Staffing Solutions, Inc., Cary, NC, Wake County, has been awarded an indefinite delivery contract by the Department of Veterans Affairs for Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services.

URS Group, Inc., Morrisville, NC, Wake County, has won a contract valued at NTE $10,000,000.00 from the Army Corps of Engineers using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Architect and Engineering (A-E) Services for the Mobile District, to Provide Environmental Support to Civil, Military and Federal Agencies.

Maintenance and Inspection, Morganton, NC, Burke County, has been awarded a contract worth $38,925.00 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Deck Drain Parts Kit.

Kidde Technologies Inc, Wilson, NC, Wilson County, has been awarded a contract worth $23,188.00 by the Department of the Air Force for Ammunition and Explosives.

Harris Stratex Networks Operating Corporation, Morrisville, NC, Wake County, has been awarded a contract worth $25,339.00 by the Department of the Navy for Microwave Radio and Sonet Mux equipment.

Atkinson-WECC-JV, Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $373,883.00 from the Army Corps of Engineers using ARRA funding for Repair and Paving at Lock and Dam #2 and Lock and Dam #3 with Boat Ramp Replacement at Lock and Dam #3.

CBRCC Inc, Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won a contract worth $87,200.00 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Mock Joint Commission Survey.

Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, Durham County, has won a contract worth $531,837.99 from the Department of the Army using ARRA funding for Lightweight, Flexible, Cost Effective Solar Energy Photovoltaics.

Eagle Home Medical Corp., Roanoke Rapids, NC, Halifax County, has won a contract worth $434,062.50 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Home Oxygen.

Grandeur Manufacturing, Inc., Jonesville, NC, Yadkin County, has won a contract worth $137,945.00 from the Department of the Army for Remote Ammunition Assembly/Disassembly Machine.

Government spending on information technology will grow nearly 4 percent, as agencies invest in software applications and services to enable transparency, accountability and modernize old computer systems, according to a federal IT research firm.

Click here to read the whole story.

The North Carolina Board of Science and Technology has announced the release of the FY 2010 Solicitation for the One North Carolina Small Business Matching Funds Program. The Program awards matching funds to North Carolina small businesses who have been awarded a SBIR or STTR Phase I award.

Please note the following changes this year, necessitated by funding limitations:

The Maximum Matching Grant award size is 50% of the Federal SBIR/STTR Program award, not to exceed $50,000.

• Companies that have previously received a Match Award under this Program under any previous Solicitation are ineligible to apply for a Match Award during the FY 2010 Solicitation.

• The Solicitation Period is July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010. Applicants must have received official notification of Phase I awards by a Federal SBIR/STTR agency during the Solicitation Period to be eligible. The Board must receive Applications for funding under this program no later than 45 days from the date of notification of Phase I award by the Federal SBIR/STTR agency. For companies whose federal notification occurred between the start date (July 1, 2009) and release date (November 15, 2009) of this Solicitation, the Board must receive Applications within 45 days from the release date of this Solicitation.

• Award decisions will be made using a stochastic process in which each Applicant will have a 50 percent probability of receiving an Award, as follows:

o Using the Board’s sciGrants system, each Applicant will submit a brief Preliminary Application containing company–specific information, proof of Phase I Award during the Solicitation period, and other information related to Program eligibility requirements.

o Each Applicant will be notified of the outcome of the stochastic process within five business days of submitting its Application.

o Applicants selected to receive a Match Award will be asked to submit a full Application via the sciGrants system.

In its four-year history, the Matching Funds Program has awarded more than $14 million to 179 small businesses throughout North Carolina. In this fifth year of the Program, the Board invites all eligible companies to apply for a Matching Grant under the FY 2010 Solicitation of the One North Carolina Small Business Program.

If you have questions regarding the program, please consult the FY 2010 Solicitation or contact the Board’s Staff.

McCall Brothers, Inc., Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won contracts worth $60,829.00 and $257,256.00 from the National Park Service for Water Supply Improvements – New Well, Kings Mountain National Military Park and Water Supply Improvements – New Water Storage Tank, Kings Mountain Military Park.

Toolcraft, Inc. of North Carolina, Marion, NC, McDowell County, has won a contract worth $99,617.00 from the Department of the Army for Guns, 75 mm through 125 mm.

Oakwood Properties, LLC, Rocky Mount, NC, Nash/Edgecombe County, has won a contract worth $2,655,462.15 from the General Services Administration for 11,275 Rentable Square Feet of Office and Related Space .

Aviation Metals, Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won a contract worth $10,135.00 from the USCG Aviation Logistics Center for METALS.

Vance Granville Community College, Vance/Granville County, has been awarded a contract worth $62,200.00 by the Bureau of Prisons for SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES.

Durham Technical Community College, Durham, NC, Durham County, has been awarded contracts worth $81,835.00 and $87,700.00 by the Bureau of Prisons for SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES and AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTION SERVICES.

Kidde Technologies Inc, Wilson, NC, Wilson County, has been awarded contracts worth $44,843.80, $38,446.50 and $39,397.92 by the Defense Logistics Agency for SENSOR, RH SEMI-CIRC, ELEMENT, SENSING, and CONTROL, ALARM.

Firstmark Aerospace Corporation, Creedmoor, NC, Granville County, has been awarded contracts worth $35,972.00, $37,360.00 and $79,020.00 by the Defense Logistics Agency for TRANSMITTER, LIQUID QUANTITY, TRANSMITTER, LIQUID QUANTITY, and COMPENSATOR, LIQUID QUANTITY GAGE.

Scott Technologies, Inc., Monroe, NC, Union County, has been awarded a contract worth $326,820.00 by the Defense Logistics Agency for AMPLIFIER, AUDIO FRE.

Volvo Construction Co., Asheville, NC, Buncombe County, is being awarded a maximum $14,596,158 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for wheel loaders. Using service is Foreign Military Sales. There were originally four proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-05-D-0006-0064).

Custom Products, Inc. (CPI), located in Mooresville, North Carolina, just outside Charlotte, has been in the aerospace industry since 1973, providing seat cushion and upholstery dress cover solutions to the airlines, OEMs and DOD. They offer complete engineering design packages as well as in-house FAR 25.853(a) & (c) flammability certification testing.

CPI’s unique ability to produce both seat cushions and upholstery dress covers promotes a quality custom fit for your seating environment. They offer interior seat kit solutions combining their unique manufacturing capabilities. CPI- Aero Services, FAA 145 Repair Station #W6BR726N, provides a variety of seating restoration services specializing in leather dress cover reconditioning and leather armcap recovering.

Visit CPI’s website and feel free to contact them for more details at 704-663-4159.

If you’d like the NCMBC to put your North Carolina company in the “Business Spotlight”, please send a brief description regarding your business (capabilities, contact information, etc.) to powellh@ncmbc.us. Feel free to include a picture.

Service-disabled veterans may get some added protection from bilkers who win government set-aside contracts by misrepresenting themselves as veteran-owned businesses. Officers of a company that misrepresented itself as a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business could be punished by as much as $5,000 in fines, two years in prison, or both, according to legislation that was introduced Nov. 19.

Click here to read the whole story.

Military Threads, Winston-Salem, NC, Forsyth County, has won a contract worth $211,175.00 from Federal Prison Industries for T-Shirts.

Newgard Industries, Inc., Monroe, NC, Union County, has won a contract worth $100,000.00 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Aircraft Seats.

Coastal Enterprises, Jacksonville, NC, Onslow County, has won a contract worth $25,508.40 from the Defense Logistics Agency for BLANK AMMUNITION 5.56MM, M23 FIRING ATTACHMENTS.

Independent Health Care Staffing, Inc., Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won a contract of unspecified value from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Services.

International Pharmaceutical, Durham, NC, Durham County, has won a contract worth $42,045.78 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Medical Supplies.

The US Small Business Administration has issued notices proposing increases in the small business size standards for five industries in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 72, Accommodation and Food Services, and for 18 industries in NAICS Sector 81, Other Services.

Comments regarding the proposed changes are due by December 21, 2009.

The two councils that amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation published seven new rules in the Federal Register yesterday.

One of them finalizes an interim rule encouraging food service contractors to donate “wholesome excess food to nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to food-insecure people in the United States.”

As expressed in an article by Elise Costello, “it serves as a nice reminder that in these tough economic times, when demand is outpacing donations in many places, the federal government and its contractors have the power to help all year long, avoiding waste on more than one level.”

The other new rules include:

•A rule finalizing the requirement for all new information technology products agencies purchase to comply with Internet Protocol Version 6.

•A rule prohibiting the use of government purchase card to pay vendors that owe money (taxes, fines, etc.) to the government. This rule does NOT apply to purchases below the $3,000 micro-purchase threshold, which are the majority of purchase card transactions.

•A rule about what travel costs and a rule about what retirement costs contractors can charge the government for.

•A rule that repeals the Bush-era requirement for contractors to post information about the right for employees to not join unions.

•And a rule that institutes some technical amendments.

Diamondwater Construction, LLC, Willow Spring, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $175,000.00 from the US Army Corps of Engineers using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Replacement of Boat Ramp at W Kerr Scott Reservoir.

Charles Melton, Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won contracts from Fort Bragg worth $179,000.00 for Miscellaneous Repairs and upgrades throughout Barracks, BLDG H-5748 and $24,500.00 for Painting.

LGS Innovations LLC, McLeansville, NC, Guilford County, has been awarded a contract worth $1,227,580.83 by the Department of the Army for ADP Telecommunications & Transmission Services.

Biomerieux , Inc., Durham, NC, Durham County, has been awarded a contract worth $33,188.16 by the Department of the Army for Bactalert 3D Blood Culture System.

Computational Engineering Inc, Apex. NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $54,899.00 from NASA for Ensight Gold Support And Maintenance.

Kidde Technologies Inc., Wilson, NC, Wilson County, has been awarded a contract worth $26,528.64 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Safety Fill Fittings.

Andritz Hydro Corp, Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won a contract worth $18,222,932.00 from the Department of the Interior for Folsom Generator Rewind/Excitation System Replacement at the Folsom Powerplant.

Guerrero Builders, LLC, Raeford, NC, Hoke County, has won a contract worth $695,596.00 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Emergency Generators.

Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc., Shelby, NC, Cleveland County, has won a contract worth $43,024.95 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Carrier Assemblies.

Scott Technologies, Inc., Monroe, NC, Union County, has been awarded a contract worth $63,640.00 by the Department of the Interior using ARRA funding for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Grand Coulee Dam.

Amidon Builders & Developers, Inc/DBA Amidon Contracting Solutions, Zebulon, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $8,770.45 from Fort Bragg for VWT Awning and Flooring.

Image Graphics Inc., Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $7,107.00 from Fort Bragg for Install/Un-Install LE Vehicle Graphics.

Sandhills Door & Hardware Inc, Aberdeen, NC, Moore County has won a contract worth $42,189.00 from Fort Bragg for Replacing Doors at Hardy Hall.

Pickett Hosiery Mills, Inc., Burlington, NC, Alamance County, has won a contract worth $100,000.00 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Socks.

Berg General Supply Inc, Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won contracts worth $26,000.00 and $55,900.00 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Turret Base Covers.

International Pharmaceutical, Durham, NC, Durham County, has won a contract worth $8,086.58 from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Legislation introduced last week would raise the net worth cap for participants of the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Currently, the minority small business assistance program excludes individuals whose net worth is more than $750,000. The bill, sponsored by Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., would adjust the cap, which was established in 1988, for inflation, bringing it to $978,722. It also would allow for increases with future inflation.

Click here to read the full story.

Contracting with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been much in the news lately. Three years in the making, the VA finalized regulations concerning its service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) and veteran-owned small business (VOSB) set aside programs on December 8. At the same time, the VA has come under increased scutiny for alleged kickbacks, fradulently awarded contracts, and other contracts-related criminal activity. In fact, legislation has now been introduced to address perceived deficiencies within the VA’s procurement process.

Features of the VA’s finalized regulations include:

Contracting Order of Priority
In determining the acquisition strategy applicable to an acquisition, the contracting officer shall consider, in the following order of priority, contracting preferences that ensure contracts will be awarded:
(a) To SDVOSBs;
(b) To VOSB, including but not limited to SDVOSBs;
(c) Pursuant to–
(1) Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act or
(2) The Historically-Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program and
(d) Pursuant to any other small business contracting preference.

Sole Source Awards
For any procurement ranging from $3,000 to $5 million, the VA contracting officer may award a sole-source contract to a SDVOSB or to a VOSB even if other SDVOSBs or VOSBs are available to meet the requirement. The awardee must be determined responsible and must be registered and verified as eligible in the VIP database, and the award must be at a fair and reasonable price.

SDVOSB and VOSB Set-Asides
If it is not handled as a sole source award, the VA contracting officer must set aside each procurement between $100,000 and $5 million for which they expect two or more eligible service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses or veteran-owned small businesses to submit a fair and reasonable offer.

Other features of the regulation include:

Establishment of a Mentor-Protege Program under which large firms that participate in the program receive preference in the award of VA contracts.

VA contracting officers may purchase supplies and services produced or provided by Federal Prison Industries (FPI) from eligible service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses, without any waiver from FPI.

If you think your firm may qualify as a VOSB/SDVOSB, see The Center for Veterans Enterprise Web Portal for complete details about eligibility, registration and verification.

See VA plagued by contracts-related crimes, IG official says and Veterans Affairs’ acquisition practices come under fire for details about the problems at the VA and the proposed legislation to “shape up… ‘major deficiencies’ in Veterans Affairs Department contracting”.

On December 17, the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Army, announced the increase in force structure of the 7th Signal Command and its two Brigades. The mission of the Command is to support the objectives of the Army’s LandWarNet. To achieve this objective, the Commanding General, BG Jennifer Napper, and her G-3 (Operations) Officer, Colonel Michael Kell, will establish a Network Operations Center (NOC) at Ft. Gordon, GA. From there the Command will consolidate the more than 240 Army Networks currently operating within the Continental United States (CONUS).

To assist them in this effort, the 93rd Signal Brigade will be headquartered at Ft. Eustis, VA and charged with the responsibilities for all the networks east of the Mississippi River while the 106th Signal Brigade at Ft. Sam Huston will assume responsibility for those west of the Mississippi River.

As of October 1, 2009, the Command has both operational and financial responsibility for all the US Army Signal Network Operating Centers (formerly the Directorate of Information Management or DOIM) within CONUS. The Command will eventually assume control of both SOUTHCOM and NORTHCOM networks.

LandWarNet is the Army’s part of the DoD information technology infrastructure and is to provide a world wide single point of entry to its capabilities to operating and generating forces in support of the Army.

Joyner Keeny, PLLC, Rocky Mount, NC, Nash County, has won a contract worth up to $2,500,000.00 from the Army Corps of Engineers for Architect-Engineer Services for Surveying and Mapping Services to Support the Wilmington District and the South Atlantic Division.

Williams Construction & Cabinetry, Inc., Robbinsville, NC, Graham County, has won a contract worth $199,943.96 from the Forest Service using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Ferebee Public Take-out upgrade – Nantahala NF – North Carolina.

Whiting-Turner Contracting, Raleigh, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $115,000.00 with an option worth $11,629,000.00 from the Department of the Navy for Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) for P714 Physical Fitness Center, MCB, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Group III Mgt, Inc., Kinston, NC, Lenoir County, has won a contract worth $8,393,416.00 from the Army Corps of Engineers for Construction of a new Armed Forces Reserve Center at Wilmington, NC.

Custom Gas Solutions, LLC, Durham, NC, Durham County, has won a contract worth $42,054.88 from the Department of the Army for CK gas.

Parata Systems LLC, Durham, NC, Durham County, has been awarded a contract worth $24,459.12 by the Department of Veterans Affairs for Service and Support for Existing Parta Pharmacy Systems.

International Pharmaceutical, Durham, NC, Durham County, has been awarded a contract worth $103,347.72 for Pharmaceuticals and a contract worth $4,833.18 for Medical and Surgical Items for Leavenworth by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Conventor, Inc., Cary, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $36,850.00 from NASA for Micro Electromechanical Systems Software Base Year + 2 Option Years.

Burlington Industries LLC, Greensboro, NC, Guilford County, has won a contract worth $123,319.78 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Serge Cloth.

Applied Energy Management, Huntersville, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won three Indefinite Quantity Job Order Contracts (JOC) for Energy Conservation Projects from the United States Postal Service, each of which is worth up to $9,500,000.00.

Eaton Corporation, Raleigh, NC, Wake County, has won two Indefinite Quantity Job Order Contracts (JOC) for Energy Conservation Projects from the United States Postal Service, each of which is worth up to $9,500,000.00.

Clark Equipment Company, Statesville, NC, Iredell County, has won a contract worth $33,790.00 from the Department of the Interior using ARRA funding for Portable Diesel Air Compressors for Coulee Dam.

K3 Enterprises, Inc., Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $15,651.88 from the U.S. Special Operations Command for Guest Speaker for Psychological Operations Officer Qualification Course (POQC).

DK Enterprise, Inc., Fayetteville, NC, Cumberland County, has been awarded a contract worth $41,490.00 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Drip Pans.

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has been awarded a contract worth $186,391.00 by the Department of the Army for Hazard-Detecting Instruments & Apparatus.

A recent decision by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), B-401955, Excel Building & Development Corporation, December 23, 2009, reconfirmed the strict requirements regarding submittal of proper bid bonds for construction projects.

Excel Building & Development Corporation of Johnson City, TN, protested the rejection of its bid by the US Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, under invitation for bids (IFB) No. AG-4756-S-09-0042 for the construction of a campground bathhouse in the Cherokee National Forest. The Forest Service rejected Excel’s bid because the protester did not submit an original bid bond as required by the IFB.

It should be noted that the IFB (sealed bid) process is very formal and the requirements are strict. If a bidder fails to follow the exact requirements specified in the solicitation, there is very little leeway for correction and acceptance of the bid.

In part, the GAO decision states:

“The determinative question in judging the sufficiency of a bid guarantee such as a bid bond is whether it could be enforced if the bidder subsequently fails to execute required contract documents and to provide performance and payment bonds… For the bid guarantee to be viewed as enforceable, the surety must appear to be clearly bound based on the information in the possession of the contracting officer at the time of bid opening… Copies of bid guarantee documents, whether transmitted electronically or hand-delivered, generally do not satisfy the requirement for a bid guarantee since there is no way, other than by referring to the original documents after bid opening, for the contracting agency to be certain that there had not been alterations to which the surety had not consented and could use as a basis to disclaim liability…

“Moreover, a bond deficiency may not be cured by submitting the original bond documents after bid opening because this would essentially provide the bidder with the option of accepting or rejecting the award by either correcting or not correcting a bond deficiency, which is inconsistent with the sealed bidding system… For this reason, a surety’s post-bid opening letter to the contracting officer cannot establish the liability of the surety and responsiveness of the protester’s bid. A nonresponsive bid cannot be made responsive after bid opening through an explanation of what the bidder or surety intended…

“Here, we find that the Forest Service properly rejected Excel’s bid. The bid bond submitted with the protester’s bid did not contain the surety’s agent’s original signature and seal. Without referring, after bid opening, to the document containing the surety agent’s original signature, the Forest Service cannot ascertain whether or not there had been alterations to which the surety had not consented and could use as a basis to disclaim liability. Accordingly, Excel’s bid guarantee cannot be viewed as enforceable based on the information in the possession of the contracting officer at the time of bid opening.”

The Obama White House capped off a decade of unprecedented growth in government contracting by announcing plans to rein in that growth.

Contract spending more than doubled over the first eight years of the decade from $259 billion in 2000 to $530 billion in 2008 as the government responded to Sept. 11 attacks, established a new Cabinet agency, funded two wars and responded to natural disasters like hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

But in 2009, the new Obama administration hit the brakes.

Click here to read the whole story about changes that are already in process.

M-W Electric, Inc., Red Springs, NC, Robeson County, has been awarded a contract worth $249,967.95 by the US Coast Guard for Electrical Rehab @ USCG Oak Island Light – Southport, NC.

Carl Rose & Sons, Inc., Elkin, NC, Surry County, has won a contract worth $225,707.00 from the Army Corps of Engineers using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Paving Repairs and new Paving various camp sites at W. Kerr Scott Recreation areas.

Diana Corbin, Asheville, NC, Buncombe County, has won a contract with a potential value of $56,250.00 from the Forest Service for Editorial Assistant Services for the Southern Research Station.

Curtiss-Wright Controls Inc, Flight Systems- Product Support Division, Shelby, NC, Cleveland County, has been awarded a contract worth $1,547,800.00 by the Department of the Army for Msl Aircraft Accessories and Components.

Triumph Actuation Systems, LLC, Clemmons, NC, Forsyth County, has been awarded a contract worth $648,461.88 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Cylinder Assemblies.

Air System Components, Sanford, NC, Lee County, has been awarded a contract worth $37,559.13 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Fog Precipitators.

J2 Associates, LLC, Raleigh, NC, Wake County, has won a contract worth $59,082.41 from the Department of the Army for Purchase and Installation of American Power Conversion.

Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, Durham County, has won a contract worth $843,180.00 from the Department of the Interior using ARRA funding for Non-Use Valuation Survey for Klamath Dam Removal.

Scott Technologies, Inc., Monroe, NC, Union County, has been awarded a contract worth $297,406.20 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Amplifiers.

Ballistic Supplies, Inc., Lumber Bridge, NC, Robeson County, has won a contract worth $122,610.00 from the Department of the Army for Steel Armor Plate.

Owle Construction LLC, Whittier, NC, Jackson County, has won a contract worth $766,124.00 from the Forest Service using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Connelly Creek Bridge.

Perry Bartsch Jr. Construction Company, Asheville, NC, Buncombe County, has won a contract worth $436,774.00 from the Forest Service using ARRA funding for Restroom Bldg Replacement and Parking Lot & Access Road Rehab Project.

DOT Construction, Inc., Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County, has won a contract worth $47,280.98 from the Forest Service using ARRA funding for Construction of Tables and concrete flooring – Croatan National Forest.

Durham Operating Partnership, L.P., Durham, NC, Durham County, has won a contract worth $35,305.00 from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Annual VA Voluntary Service Banquet.

Kidde Technologies Inc., Wilson, NC, Wilson County, has been awarded a contract worth $73,214.68 by the Defense Logistics Agency for Thermostatic Switches.

Diversified Service Contracting, Inc., Dunn, NC, Harnett County, has won a contract worth $1,085,382.58 from Fort Bragg for Pumping & Cleaning Grease Traps, Septic Tanks, Lift Stations, and Field Stations.

City Electric Supply Co, Spring Lake, NC, Cumberland County, has won a contract worth $44,401.50 from the Defense Logistics Agency for Electrical Couplings.

The 2010 North Carolina Green Business Fund Solicitation (call for Proposals) is now open.

The North Carolina Green Business Fund is a competitive grants program established by the State of North Carolina in 2007, and administered by the Office of Science and Technology, a division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The grants, worth up to $500,000 each, are funded by the federal Recovery Act through the NC Energy Office.

Eligibility for the program is limited to small for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, State agencies, and local governments to encourage the expansion of small to medium sized businesses with 100 or fewer employees that have innovative commercial technologies, products and services to grow a green economy in the State. Applicants MUST have their principal base of business in North Carolina.

Project proposals need to fall into at least one of three priority areas: biofuels, green building, or environmentally clean technology and renewable energy. Critical to consideration is how the proposals will help create or keep jobs, leverage additional funds and help areas of the state that are struggling economically.

In addition, the proposals must fulfill at least one of five energy-conscious elements:
•Save energy;
•Install or generate renewable energy;
•Reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
•Produce alternative fuels;
•Promote building energy efficiency.

While the maximum award is $500,000, applications seeking less than that are strongly encouraged and will receive priority. All proposals will be reviewed on a merit basis by an external advisory committee. For proposals requesting more than $250,000, in-person presentations may be required in addition to the written proposal.

If you are interested in applying for the NC Green Business Fund, click here to obtain a copy of the Solicitation and to familiarize yourself with the application requirements.

Potential applicants should read the Solicitation carefully and completely before submitting a pre-proposal. Deadline for the receipt of pre-proposals (750 words maximum) is January 19th, 2010. Invitations for full proposals will be issued by the end of January 2010.

If you have any questions, please contact Paul Shannon, NC Green Business Fund Grants Administrator, at pshannon@nccommerce.com or 919-715-0516.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has denied another protest regarding the submittal of a bid bond for a federal construction project. This case (B-402227, TJ’s Marine Construction LLC, January 7, 2010) involves the rejection of a bid by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under invitation for bids (IFB) No. W912HN-09-B-0020 for the replacement of breakwaters at Belhaven Harbor in North Carolina. USACE rejected TJ’s Marine’s bid because the firm’s bid bond contained a copy of the surety agent’s signature.

The USACE has not yet awarded a contract for this project for which the government estimate was approximately $3 million. It appears from the bid abstract that TJ’s Marine, which is located in Pantego, NC, would have been in line to receive this award if they had submitted a proper bid bond on or before the bid opening date.

The GAO decision states in part:

“The sufficiency of a bid bond relates to whether the government will receive full and complete protection in the event that the bidder fails to execute the required contract documents and deliver the required performance and payment bonds… As such, a required bid bond is a material condition of an IFB with which there must be compliance at the time of bid opening; when a bidder submits a defective bid bond or uncertainty exists at the time of bid opening that the bidder has furnished a legally binding bond, the bid itself is rendered defective and must be rejected as nonresponsive…

“The determinative question in judging the sufficiency of a bid guarantee such as a bid bond is whether it could be enforced if the bidder subsequently fails to execute required contract documents and to provide performance and payment bonds… For the bid guarantee to be viewed as enforceable, the surety must appear to be clearly bound based on the information in the possession of the contracting officer at the time of bid opening… Copies of bid guarantee documents, whether transmitted electronically or hand-delivered, generally do not satisfy the requirement for a bid guarantee since there is no way, other than by referring to the original documents after bid opening, for the contracting agency to be certain that there had not been alterations to which the surety had not consented and could use as a basis to disclaim liability…

“Here, we find that the USACE properly rejected TJ’s Marine’s bid. The bid bond submitted with the protester’s bid did not contain the surety’s agent’s original signature. Without referring, after bid opening, to the document containing the surety agent’s original signature, the USACE cannot ascertain whether or not there had been alterations to which the surety had not consented and could use as a basis to disclaim liability. Accordingly, TJ’s Marine’s bid guarantee cannot be viewed as enforceable based on the information in the possession of the contracting officer at the time of bid opening.”

If your firm is located in NC and you have questions about bid bonds for federal construction projects, feel free to contact the North Carolina Military Business Center.